RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - A renewed effort to freeze the
percentage of North Carolina's retail electricity sales
required to come from renewable sources or efficient efforts
passed the state House on Wednesday
Lawmakers voted 77-32 in favor of their version of the
"regulatory reform" bill drawn up annually since Republicans
took over the legislature in 2011. The omnibus measure also
addresses recent out-of-service hog farms and requires
natural buffers along waterways in certain river basins.
The renewable energy and efficiency cap comes two years
after some GOP House members tried unsuccessfully to phase
out a 2007 law that solar energy advocates say has created
thousands of new jobs along with savings for electric
utility customers.
Last month, an effort to cap the retail sales stipulation at
6 percent failed to pass in another bill. So supporters used
the regulatory bill as a vehicle to reinsert the cap and
another limit on how much of the cost of complying with the
2007 law utilities can pass along to their customers.
Residential customer riders on their bills would be limited
to $12 annually.
Supporters such as the group
Americans for Prosperity North Carolina say the state
and electric customers should no longer subsidize and give
preference to alternative energy producers. A study in the
bill would look at other adjustments to the 2007 law.
Before the bill went to the Senate, House members restored
an amendment that gives local property tax breaks for solar
energy operations.
The bill also decreases a contract threshold through which
solar and wind projects sell their electricity to utilities.
Supporters argued the change is necessary because utilities
are paying for energy they don't need.
The limit on standard contracts is likely to lead to fewer
new solar projects, the state chapter of the
Sierra Club said in a release.
The measure also addresses riparian buffers that state and
local governments use to meet water pollution requirements.
The bill essentially says cities and counties can't exceed
the state buffer standard of 50 feet without approval of the
state Environmental Management Commission. The state's
municipalities are worried the changes will make it harder
and more expensive to meet federal clear water standards.
The legislation sets parameters by which swine farm
operations that have not been in service in recent years can
begin raising sows again and not be subject to new rules
requiring the use of upgraded technologies that don't use
lagoons to handle pig waste.
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